Relief soon on U.S. 281/Loop 1604 interchange

Updated 1:31 am, Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The still-under-construction U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 interchange on the northside is seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo looking south towards downtown.

The still-under-construction U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 interchange on the northside is seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo looking south towards downtown.

Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News

Image 2 of 4

The still-under-construction ramp from Loop 1604 westbound to U.S. 281 southbound is seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo.

The still-under-construction ramp from Loop 1604 westbound to U.S. 281 southbound is seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo.

Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News

Image 3 of 4

The still-under-construction ramps on the south side of U.S. 281 that connect to Loop 1604 are seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo as U.S. 281 runs from the top to the bottom of the image.

The still-under-construction ramps on the south side of U.S. 281 that connect to Loop 1604 are seen in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo as U.S. 281 runs from the top to the bottom of the image.

Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News

Image 4 of 4

Traffic on the U.S. 281 northbound access road is seen on the right in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo as the still-under-contruction connector ramps from Loop 1604 are seen at left.

Traffic on the U.S. 281 northbound access road is seen on the right in this Oct. 25, 2012 aerial photo as the still-under-contruction connector ramps from Loop 1604 are seen at left.

Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News

Relief soon on U.S. 281/Loop 1604 interchange

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

Drivers who have put up with road closures and construction delays for more than a year as work continues on the U.S. 281-Loop 1604 interchange might be asking themselves the age-old question: Are we there yet?

The two remaining connectors, joining Loop 1604 east and west to U.S. 281 south, could open by the end of the year or in early 2013. Starting Feb. 7, the construction firm building the interchange, Williams Brothers Construction Co., loses $5,000 a day until the connectors are complete, Alloway said.

The entire project, which also includes work on the frontage roads of both corridors, and on some bridges that span Loop 1604, is slated to be completed by May.

More than 245,000 vehicles a day go through the area, which includes the motorists who travel from Loop 1604 to U.S. 281, and vice versa. About 50,000 of those vehicles are expected to use the new interchange every day, Alloway said. That number could increase if drivers who previously avoided the area because of the traffic problems return once the interchange opens.

The four ramps under construction are the southern half of a larger interchange project. City and county officials plan to eventually build the other half, which would connect U.S. 281 on the north side of the interchange to Loop 1604 east and west.